The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-03
EulOgy on the Death OF the Late J. II
Gordon.

EulOgy ON the Death OF the Late ]. II.
Gordon.
delivered before the Circuit Court. of Ale
gany county, by Jacob Brown, Esq
Again we have been severely chas-
tened this time by the death of the
conceded senior member of this Bar
Josiah Hance Gordon. Death is the
penalty of all human life, whether it
be sweet or morose. An All-wise
Providence, by his unalterable law,
has warned US all in advance of the
mere fact, but the time and circum-
stances remain mysteries to the last.
Our departed brother had passed his
three score and ten years, and enter.
ed upon the priviledged ground re-
served to the remnants of well-spent
lives. To use one of his own express
sions-''living upon borrowed time"
His long and tedious life-journey had
worn out rugged physique many
months before, entailing the severest
bodily Affections, which he bore as
but few could. and which kept him
indoors almost constantly, yet his in
Simultaneous death came upon the
highway instead of at his loved home.
"The silver cord had parted, and the
golden bowl broken at the fountain"
but so ready and resigned was he
always, that if we could now know
it. he has said in the spirit land /:
"Thy will be done not NINE"
Josiah H. Gordon was born on the
9Th of May, 1916, in Franklin county,
Pa, of unpretended but respectable
parents, of the sturdy Scotch-Irish
race, which originally peopled Cum
berland Valley he was imbued with
the characteristics of that impressive
stock. His early home education was
limited neither collegiate or academic,
but he demonstrated. by his own ex-
ample, that man can rise to great
usefulness and eminence in all the
spheres of life without passing in and
out the portals of a learned institu-
ton. Here is case where even an
Gt0na'lus may ask for and receive in
struction from one without an alma
mater. He learned a useful trade at
home and pursued it for some years,
until ambition and his own irrepres-
sible endowment told him of his fit.
ness for what the world calls higher
usefulness. The implements of a craft
were laid aside forsbooks and study.
He made himself an incessant stu
dent, commencing at the true begin
ming and pursuing the exact lines
that lead not merely to an education,
but to learning as we'll. In this way
he conquered illiteracy, as he did all
his besetting obstacles, and prepared
himself for learned profession.
Thus prepared, he studied law un.
der the Messrs. McKaig, a firm of
great prominence and weight of that
and later days, and was admitted to
this Bar in 1S45; when its ranks were
replete with such talents and equip
ments as put the bar of that date
where it had no superior. Yet our
subject, conscious of his developing
powers, with will and courage I'M
daunted, won his way to lucrative
business, and to social, professional
and official stations of envious eleva-
tions. AS a lawyer he was laborious,
careful, prudent and altogether trust.
worthy. In the trial of his cases he
was always we'll prepared, watchful
of his own vantage grounds, and al
ways ready to see and assail his adj
versary's vulnerable points. He lost
no cases that ought to nave been
gained, but gained some with the
chances of loss on their side. For
many years ejectment law was almost
a speciality with him. 1t can be said
without disparagement to any one,
that in the course of his long practice
he was connected with more of these
difficult cases than any of his brothers
The reports in the Court of Appeals
show this, and also the success, abil-
ity aud astuteness with which he
tried this class of cases, as well as all
others, in that very learned and high
tribunal. And it was in that forum,
more than in any other, where his